Some American Muslims Irritated By Obama's Call For Them To 'Root Out' Extremism

"That this is only directed at the Muslim community is something that I personally can't accept," activist Linda Sarsour said of President Obama's challenge to American Muslims. She's pictured here in 2011 at the Arab American Association of New York.

Henny Ray Abrams
/ AP

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Originally published on December 11, 2015 2:15 pm

President Obama's request that American Muslims help "root out" and confront extremist ideology in their communities is getting mixed reactions. Muslim leaders say they want to help, but some are not happy that they are being singled out.

"We would never ask any other faith community to stand up and condemn acts of violence committed by people within their groups," said Palestinian-American activist Linda Sarsour, who has worked extensively with the Black Lives Matter movement and other minority groups. "The fact that this is only directed at the Muslim community is something that I personally can't accept."

In his Sunday-night message, the president did say Muslims should not be treated differently, but administration officials say they are looking to the American Muslim community for some particular assistance. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson took that request personally Monday to the All Dulles Area Muslim Society mosque in Sterling, Va.

"I will continue to speak out against the discrimination, vilification and isolation that American Muslims face in these challenging times," Johnson said.

But then came the appeal.

"Now, I have an ask," he said. "It is an ask of the people in this room and all Muslims across the country. Terrorist organizations overseas have targeted your communities. They seek to pull your youth into the pit of violent extremism. Help us to help you stop this."

Muslim leaders have heard this before, and some find it a little irritating.

"We're not law enforcement officials," said Shahed Amanullah, a Washington, D.C.-based American Muslim entrepreneur with Silicon Valley connections. He has worked with the U.S. government on combating online extremism, but he said it's unrealistic to expect Muslim Americans to confront violent people in their midst.

"We're community members and Americans like everybody else," he said, "and we should have the same relationship with law enforcement that everybody else has. To expect us to be on the front lines without having the capacity or the support would not be [productive]. It wouldn't be productive with any community."

The feeling among Muslims that more is expected of them than of other religious groups seems to be widespread. Hamad Hahsy, an immigrant from Afghanistan now operating a kebab restaurant in South Philadelphia, agrees he has a duty to confront extremism when he sees it, but not because he's a Muslim.

"It's everybody's duty," he said, "not Muslim or Christian. As Americans, it's our duty. I just told my wife, 'You're not Afghan anymore.' I've been living in this country for 25 years. We are first American, then Afghan. This is our duty, to protect this country."

For Bassam Issa, president of the Islamic Society of Greater Chattanooga, Tenn., there is nothing new in the request to assist law enforcement in identifying violent extremists. A local Muslim shot up two military installations in Chattanooga, killing four Marines and a sailor, in July.

"When that happened, we contacted each other more often," Issa said of his relations with the FBI and other law enforcement agencies. "We've been working together very closely. They know that anything they want from us they've always gotten, and we will always be there for them."

The shooting in Chattanooga was a turning point for the local Muslim community there. The San Bernardino, Calif., shootings may yet turn out to be a game changer as well, ushering in closer relations with law enforcement agencies and counterterrorism investigators.

Bob Marro, chairman of the government relations committee at the All Dulles Area Muslim Society in Northern Virginia, said his fellow Muslims may need to do more to help identify anybody with violent or extremist tendencies.

"We see these people close up," he said at the meeting with Johnson. "If [we] see something a little bit out of character, maybe the time has now come to say something to somebody else."

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DAVID GREENE, HOST:

Donald Trump seized a lot of attention yesterday when he proposed that Muslims be banned from entering the United states. President Obama has taken a very different approach. In a speech Sunday night, the president spoke of Muslims as allies. He said he wants them to help root out extremist ideology. NPR's Tom Gjelten asked some American Muslims what they think.

TOM GJELTEN, BYLINE: Palestinian-American activist Linda Sarsour works with the Black Lives Matter movement and other minority groups. She's firmly committed to interfaith cooperation. But she was a bit offended by President Obama's message to Muslims.

LINDA SARSOUR: We would never ask any other faith community to stand up and condemn acts of violence committed by people within their groups. And the fact that this is only directed at the Muslim community is something that I personally can't accept.

GJELTEN: In his Sunday night message, the president did say Muslim Americans should not be treated differently. But administration officials are not retreating from their request that Muslims assist in counterterrorism efforts. Speaking at a mosque outside Washington yesterday, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said he'll keep defending American Muslims from discrimination. But then he asked for something in return.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

JEH JOHNSON: It is an ask of the people in this room and all Muslims across this country.

GJELTEN: Terrorist groups, he said, are seeking to pull your youth into the pit of violent extremism.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

JOHNSON: Help us to help you stop this.

GJELTEN: Muslim leaders have heard this before. Shahed Amanullah, a Muslim American entrepreneur with Silicon Valley connections, has worked with the U.S. government on combating online extremism. But he says it's unrealistic to expect Muslims to deal with violent people in their midst.

SHAHED AMANULLAH: We're not law enforcement officials. We're community members and Americans like everybody else. And we should have the same relationship with law enforcement that anybody else does, which is if we see something, we say something. To expect us to kind of be on the frontlines without having a capacity or support, it's just not - it wouldn't be productive with any community.

GJELTEN: Amanullah says the key to combating extremist ideology is for Muslims to become more socially and culturally integrated. We're still trying to find our footing, he says, in terms of what it means to be Muslim American. Ahmed Hahsy is an immigrant from Afghanistan now living in Philadelphia. He agrees it's his duty to confront extremism when he sees it, but not because he's a Muslim.

AHMED HAHSY: I've been living in this country for 25 years. You're first American, then Afghan. This is our duty, to protect this country.

GJELTEN: Among the Muslim community leaders who have been asked before to cooperate with law enforcement is Bassam Issa. He's president of the Islamic Society of Greater Chattanooga in Tennessee. That's where a Muslim shot and killed four Marines and a sailor at two military facilities.

BASSAM ISSA: When that happened, we contacted each other more often. And we've been working together very closely. They know anything they want from us, they've always gotten. And we will always be there for them.

GJELTEN: The shooting in Chattanooga was a turning point for the local Muslim community there, ushering in closer relations with the police. The San Bernardino shootings may be something of a game changer as well. Among those discussing extremism yesterday with Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson was Bob Marro, a local Muslim leader.

BOB MARRO: As the community, we can see these people close up. And if you're seeing something which is looking a little bit out of character, maybe the time has now come for somebody to say something to somebody else.

GJELTEN: Bob Marro, he chairs the Government Relations Committee at the All Dulles Area Muslim Society outside Washington. Tom Gjelten, NPR News, Washington. [POST-BROADCAST CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly spelled Hahsyâs first name. It is Hamad.] Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.